Electric vacuum cleaner



March 16, 1943. B; J. TAMARIN ,3

ELEC'iRIC VACUUM CLEANER Filed F913. 1, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l i 2 [mentor .fiezyzanZJ 1242720272 March 16,1943 B. J. TAMARIN 2,314,177

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Jifafngy Patented'Mar. 16, 1943 FFICE,

ELECTRIC VACUUM CLEANER Bernard J. Tamar-in, Philadelphia, Pa. Application February 1, 1941, Serial No. 376,968

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an electric vacuum cleaner, and has for one of its objects a construction of electric vacuum cleaner which is provided with an open end casing having removable end caps, and supporting therein a bag, a fan, a motor, and an automatic electric cord take-up device, all of which have a novel relationship to facilitate the installation thereof, and to facilitate the automatic take up of the electric cord in the motor in the use of the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of the invention resides inthe axial alignment of the bag, the fan, the motor, and the electric cord take-up device so that the electric cord oi the motor may be automatically extended or retracted from within the casing without in any way eflecting the efficiency of operation of the vacuum cleaner.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel construction and operation of a spring operated automatic take-up device within the length of the casing and supported by an end cap of the casing, so that in the detachment of the end cap, the automatic take-up device is removed from the casing.

A feature of the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of the automatic cord take-up device and its mode of connection to an end cap so as to facilitate assemblage of' the parts and the ready removal thereof from the vacuum cleaner for inspection or for the repair of parts.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral I designates an open end cylindrical casing, the open end portions of which are closed by two end caps 2 and 3. Each of these end caps may be detachably connected to the casing I in any suitable manner but, for the purpose of illustration, there is provided lock screws 4 which pass through the caps and engage the walls of the casing i. Of

course, it' is to be understood that the caps may have a screw-threaded engagement with the casing, or may have a frictional fit therewith,

The cap 2 is provided with an exhaust port 5 and the cap 3 is provided with an inlet port 6. Arranged in alignment with the ports 5' and 6 and supported within the casing are the necessary cleaning instrumentallties, such as a bag Figure 1 is a side elevation of the electric vacuum cleaner;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

end cap and automatic cord take-up device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line t-t of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail view of a portion of one of the caps; 1

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modification of the invention;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal view of the modification shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view on line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of the cap and reel of Figure 7 when detached.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the t structure i, a fan structure 8, and an electric motor structure 9.

As a component part of the vacuum cleaner, and positioned within the length of the casing in alignment with the cleaning instrumentalities heretofore'described, is an automatic cord takeup structure it) provided for the purpose of alltofnatically winding the electric cord of the motor structure 8, or allowing the cord to extend a variable distance beyond the casing i in the use of the vacuum cleaner. This automatic cord structure til consists, basically, of a reel ii having a hub 82 mounted on a stationary shaft is. One end of the shaft 93 is fixed to a bracket it which, in turn, is fixed to the interior surface of the end cap 2. The other end portion of the shaft may have a detachable engagement with the frame $5 of the motor by providing a recess in the frame and inserting the end of the shaft therein. Preferably in practice the bracket i l may form the sole support for the shaft, thereby entirely disconnecting the shaft from the motor frame.

Coiled about the hub i2 is a spring it having one endsecured to the hub i2 and its other end secured to the reel H. Associated with the reel is a brake device i7 which may be manually controlled, or may be entirely automatic, as disclosed in the drawings. As illustrated, this brake device consists of a pair of pawls i8 swingably connected to the reel and having pawls is adapted to selectively engage a notch 20 in a disc secured to the bracket M.

As is well known in the art, the brake device functions similar to a curtain roller in that the pawls may be snapped out of engagement with the disc in allowing thereel to turn, and the pawls may engage the notch to hold the reel in adjustedposition.

Associated with the reel is an insulating block 2| supporting an inner metallic ring 22 and an outer metallic ring 23 to which the terminals of an electric cord 24, wrapped upon the reel, are connected, said cord passing through an outlet 24a formed in the casing. Slidably associated with the rings 22 and 23 are brushes 25 carried by a brush holder 25a which is also mounted on the stationary shaft i3. These brushes are connected to the motor load wires 26 of the motor structure 9.

For the purpose of facilitating the passage of air from the inlet port 6 to the exhaust port around the reel structure, the reel ii is provided with air passages 21. v

To complete the machine, there is attached to the casing a handl 28 and the casing is mounted upon a support 29.

Referring to Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, I have illustrated a rectangular form of casing 30 having open ends closed by end caps 3| and 82, which have a frictional engagement with the casing. Housed within the casing is a bag structure 33, a fan structure 34, and a motor structure 35. Secured to the end cap 3| is a bracket 36 which supports the reel structure 31 having the component part disclosed in the reel structure illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the automatic cord take-up structure is supported by the end cap in a manner that when the end cap is removed from the casing, the reel structure is removed with the cap and supported within the cap. Due to the fact that the cap forms the sole support for the reel, the cap and reel may be quickly assembled as a unitary structur for connection and disconnection from the vacuum cleaner casing in close proximity to the motor structure so that the proper electrical connection can be quickly accomplished.

Due to the open end construction of the casing, the cleaning instrumentalities may be readily forced into proper position within the casing, and the caps snapped into place. In view of the fact that the reel structure is connected to, and assembled within, the cap, it is a very easy operation to make the necessary electrical connection with the motor whereby the electric cord of the motor may be extended or automatically taken up in the use of the vacuum cleaner.

The application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial Number 266,829, filed November 23, 1940.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a vacuum cleaner casing having an elongated formation and provided with an open end portion in which is axially mounted a cleaner fan driving motor including a housing therefor exposed through said open end portion: a cap for closing said open end portion and consisting of a hollow body having an end wall and terminating with a rim'conforming to the configuration of said open end portion of the casing for engagement therewith; exhaust port means formed in the end wall of said body for the operation of the cleaner; a bracket mounted within the hollow body and secured thereto to extend for a distance away from said port means; a stub shaft having one of its ends fixed onto said bracket and the other of its ends extended on a plane axially of said body and casing; a reel rotatably carried on said shaft; an electric cord wound about said reel; and a member mounted on the extended end of said shaft and having means associated with said cord and means connectable to said motor to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

2. In combination with a vacuum cleaner casing having an elongated formation and provided with an open end portion in which is axially mounted a cleaner fan driving motor including a housing therefor having a frame with a portion thereof exposed through said open end portion: a cap for closing said open end portion and consisting of a hollow body having an end wall and terminating with a rim conforming to the configuration of said open end portion of the casing for engagement therewith; exhaust port means formed in the end wall of said body for the operation of the cleaner; a bracket mounted within the hollow body and secured thereto to extend for a distance away from said port means; a stub shaft having one of its ends fixed onto said bracket and the other of its ends extending on a plane axially of said body and casing and pro jected for engagement with said portion of the motor frame to be located thereby in proper position; a reel rotatably carried on said shaft; an electric cord wound about said reel; and a member mounted on th extended end of said shaft and having means associated with said cord and means connectable to said motor to establish an electrical connection therebetween.

3. As an article of manufacture, a cap for closing the open end of a vacuum cleaner casing having an elongated formation and provided with an open end portion in which is axially mounted a cleaner fan driving motor including a housing therefor exposed through said open end portion: said cap consisting of a hollow body having an end wall and terminating with a rim conforming to the configuration of said open end portion of the casing and adapted for engagement therewith for attachment of the cap thereto; exhaust port means formed in the end wall of said body for the operation of the cleaner upon attachment of the cap to the open end portion of said casing; a bracket mounted within the hollow body and secured thereto to extend for a distance away from said port means; a stub shaft having one of its ends fixed onto said bracket and the other of its ends extended on a plan axially of said body in the general direction of the rim thereof; a reel rotatably carried on said shaft; an electric cord wound about said reel; and a member mounted on the extended end portion of said shaft and having means associated with said cord and means connectable to said motor to establish an electrical connection therebetween upon attachment of the cap to the open end portion of the vacuum cleaner casing.

4. As an article of manufacture, a cap for closing the open end of a vacuum cleaner casing having an elongated formation and provided with an open end portion in which is axially mounted a cleaner fan driving motor including a housing therefor having a frame with a portion thereof exposed through said open end portion: said cap consisting of a hollow body having an end wall and terminating with a rim conforming to the configuration of said open end portion of the casing and adapted for engagement therewith for attachment of the cap thereto; exhaust port means formed in the end wall of said body for the operation of the cleaner upon attachment of the cap to the open end portion of said casing; a bracket mounted within th hollow body and secured thereto to extend for' a distance away from said port means; a stub shaft having one of its ends fixed onto said bracket and the other of its ends extended on a plane axially of said body in" the general direction of the rim thereto. and projected for engagement with said portion of the motor frame to be located thereby in proper position upon attachment of the cap to the vacuum cleaner casing; a. reel rotatably carried on said shaft; an eiectriccord wound about 

